The ‘Heart’ of Cornerstone Retires

Her first position, at the age of 17, was as a check typist. Now almost 42 years later, Cornerstone CFO, CAO/EVP Karen Hart will retire April 9.

“My goal was to get to Friday,” Hart recalled of her 17-year-old self. “I loved what I was doing, and my career just kept growing. I loved every minute of it because it was and still is a pleasure to serve. I was always excited to get to work.”

Hart thanks her mentors, which guided her career trajectory in the early years of her career.

“During my early years, women like Susan Newton, Mary Ogden, and Mary Willingham were all women of power in our organization,” Hart said. “I studied them carefully. I always wanted to be a leader.”

Hart also belonged to a group of female leaders on the boards of directors that inspired her.

“I remember thinking I want to be like them—a CEO and on a board making a difference,” she said. “That same group of women were there supporting me and pushing me all along. They were amazing leaders for their credit unions and our company and inspired me more than they know.”

Other women who have inspired Hart throughout her career include Kerry Parker, Ayn Talley, Pamela Stephens, Lily Newfarmer, and Angela McCatharan.

Hart’s Leadership, Commitment to Growth Leaves a Lasting Impact

Hart takes great pride in the mentoring she has done for staff members. “To watch them grow and achieve is amazing—especially young professionals,” Hart said. “I never had children, but I think the pride is the same.”

Another great source of pride for Hart is her commitment to professional growth and her Development Educator (DE) certification.

“That experience truly changed my life and gave me the opportunity to lead with passion in so many ways,” she said.  

One of Hart’s signature career achievements is her DE project, which was fueled by passion for credit unions: Credit Unions Care. She inspired Cornerstone to adopt Credit Unions Care to raise awareness for credit unions, drive community engagement, and increase fundraising for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Not long after, the entire Cornerstone region was overtaken by dedicated credit union leaders in red T-shirts traveling to hospitals with fluffy Credit Unions Care Bears in tow to raise money for the kids. Hart even drove her Harley for the fundraising events that spanned three states.

Credit Unions Care received the DE Cooperative Spirit Award in 2016 from the National Credit Union Foundation. On receiving her award, Hart said, “I hope I have the chance to make a difference in somebody else’s life. And I think that’s what credit unions give us the ability to do; get out in our community and make a bigger difference for this world that we get to occupy for a short period of time.”

‘There Are No Cell Phones on a Motorcycle’

Having come from a large family, Hart learned that being successful at work requires teamwork—and that means working as if you’re in a large family. She also learned early on that you don’t have to be the boss to be the leader.

“I strived to make sure that everyone around me had the leadership they deserved,” Hart said. “My career was founded on integrity, ethics, and honesty, and I demanded that from others as well.”

For her next act in retirement, Hart has plans to spend time with family, but there are other things she looks forward to as well.

“There are no cell phones on a motorcycle,” Hart said. “The feeling is much like we have with our credit union family; you know when we all show up to a conference the hugs begin, the laughs begin, the fun times begin because it’s a feeling of family. I was raised on bikes. When you’re with friends in that environment, it’s the same feeling of brotherhood—and did I mention there are no cell phones on a motorcycle?”

A lifelong dedication to an organization is uncommon for many, and for Hart it was a higher calling that inspired her staying power.

“I love this company, and it’s just that simple,” Hart said. “I say it all the time: every day is a holiday, every meal is a banquet, every paycheck is a fortune, and every formation is a parade. I have always taken great pride in everything we do for credit unions. I believe in our principles, our philosophy, and the fact that we go above and beyond to serve a movement that gives back. There is no better job.”

Cornerstone League President/CEO Caroline Willard encapsulates Karen Hart’s legacy:

“In her role as the CFO/CAO/EVP, Karen Hart touched virtually every function within the Cornerstone League, Foundation, and Resources organizations. Having served for 41 years in a series of progressively more challenging roles, Karen has unparalleled institutional knowledge; but instead of being tethered to the past, Karen has shown a remarkable ability to be a change agent. She has an outstanding work ethic and a gift for oral presentations. In fact, we call her ‘the Preacher’ because of her ability to inspire our team members even when times are tough. When Karen speaks, people listen, because she has unflappable integrity that’s balanced with a mischievous sense of humor. Rarely have I seen so many gifts in a single employee. Karen is truly one of a kind.”

For those who want to send best wishes to Karen Hart, please send them to media@cornerstoneleague.coop. For those who wish to offer those well wishes in person, her retirement party is at 4 p.m. on April 8 during Cornerstone’s IMPACT Virtual Annual Meeting. To attend, please contact Brandon Walker at bwalker@cornerstoneleague.coop.